Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Beijing
You'll arrive in Beijing and get settled at your hotel after the transfer. In the early evening, head out to Wangfujing Street for dinner. This pedestrian area is packed with shops and restaurants, so you'll get a real sense of the city's energy right from the start.
- Meals
- Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Mercure Beijing Downtown), Hotel (Grand Concordia), Hotel (Grand Mercure Beijing Central)
Optional Activities
- Explore Wangfujing Street - shopping and dining
Landmarks Wangfujing Street 
- Day 2
Beijing
This is a full day taking in Beijing's major sites. Start at the Forbidden City, then climb Coal Hill in Jingshan Park for views across the city. After that, walk through Tiananmen Square and check out the Summer Palace. In the afternoon, you'll take a tricycle ride through the old Hutong neighborhoods to see how people live in these traditional areas, and visit a courtyard house to get a feel for local life.
- Meals
- Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Mercure Beijing Downtown), Hotel (Grand Concordia), Hotel (Grand Mercure Beijing Central)
Included Activities
- Visit the Forbidden City
- Visit Jingshan Park and Coal Hill
- Visit Tiananmen Square
- Visit the Summer Palace
- Tricycle ride through Hutong neighborhoods
- Visit a Siheyuan courtyard house
Optional Activities
- Visit the Confucius Temple (alternative if Forbidden City unavailable)
- Visit the Lama Temple (alternative if Forbidden City unavailable)
Landmarks Forbidden City Jingshan Park Coal Hill Tiananmen Square Great National Theater Summer Palace Confucius Temple Lama Temple - Day 3
Beijing
Travel to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall and take the cable car up for views of the mountain landscape. On the way back into the city, stop at the 798 Art District to see contemporary galleries and street art. Later, visit the Temple of Heaven, then spend the evening getting a foot massage and taking a Tai Chi class. Finish with dinner featuring lacquered duck, a Beijing specialty.
- Meals
- Dinner (Lacquered duck dinner)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Mercure Beijing Downtown), Hotel (Grand Concordia), Hotel (Grand Mercure Beijing Central)
Included Activities
- Cable car ride at Great Wall of China - Mutianyu section
- Visit 798 Art District
- Visit Temple of Heaven
- Foot massage
- Tai Chi class
- Lacquered duck dinner
Landmarks Great Wall of China - Mutianyu section 798 Art District Temple of Heaven - Day 4
Beijing to Taian to Qufu
After breakfast, board a high-speed train to Taian, which takes about 2 hours traveling at 300 km/h. Once there, see the Dai Temple, an 11th century Taoist site. Take the cable car partway up Mount Taishan, then hike the remaining distance to the Gates of Heaven alongside pilgrims making their own journey. Later, a bus takes you to Qufu for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Shangri-la Qufu)
Included Activities
- Visit Dai Temple
- Cable car ride to Gates of Heaven on Mount Taishan
- Climb Gates of Heaven staircase on Mount Taishan
Landmarks Dai Temple Mount Taishan Gates of Heaven - Mount Taishan 
- Day 5
Qufu to Xuzhou
Spend the morning in Qufu exploring the Confucius Mansion and Temple, the birthplace of this influential philosopher. Travel to Xuzhou and visit the underground Mausoleum of the Han Emperor, which contains an impressive terracotta army collection similar to the more famous Xi'an site. You'll pass by scenic Lake Yunlong along the way before settling in for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hyatt Regency Xuzhou)
Included Activities
- Visit Confucius Mansion
- Visit Confucius Temple
- Visit underground Mausoleum of the Han Emperor
- View terracotta army in museum
Optional Activities
- Drive past Lake Yunlong
Landmarks Confucius Mansion Confucius Temple Mausoleum of the Han Emperor Lake Yunlong - Day 6
Xuzhou to Nanjing
Leave Xuzhou early and arrive in Nanjing around 12:30 p.m. Head to Purple Mountain to see the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum and the quiet Linggu Temple. After that, you have free time to explore Nanjing at your own pace. This city has about eight million residents and plenty to wander through on your own.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Novotel Nanjing Central), Hotel (Hilton Nanjing Riverside)
Included Activities
- Visit Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum
- Visit Linggu Temple
Optional Activities
- Explore Nanjing city (free time)
Landmarks Purple Mountain Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum Linggu Temple 
- Day 7
Nanjing to Suzhou to Tongli to Shanghai
Travel to Suzhou to explore its classical gardens, starting with the Garden of the Humble Administrator, the largest and most well-known garden there. Walk along Pingjiang Road with its small canals and teahouses. Later, head to Tongli for a boat ride through the water town's waterways. By evening you'll be on your way to Shanghai.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Novotel Shanghai Atlantis)
Included Activities
- Visit Garden of the Humble Administrator
- Boat ride through Tongli water town
Optional Activities
- Explore Pingjiang Road (free time)
Landmarks Garden of the Humble Administrator Pingjiang Road Tongli 
- Day 8
Shanghai
Start in Pudong's modern financial district and go up the Pearl Tower for city views. Take a ferry across the Huangpu River for a different perspective of Shanghai. Visit Yuyuan Garden and participate in a traditional tea ceremony there. Wander through Xintiandi, a trendy shopping and dining area, and check out Tianzifang with its artistic alleyways. End with a walk along the Bund to see the grand colonial-era buildings.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Tea Ceremony (Traditional tea ceremony demonstration)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Novotel Shanghai Atlantis)
Included Activities
- Visit Pudong district and Pearl Tower
- Scenic ferry ride across Huangpu River
- Visit Yuyuan Garden
- Traditional tea ceremony demonstration
- Explore Xintiandi
- Explore Tianzifang
Optional Activities
- Boat trip to see Shanghai at night (optional)
Landmarks Pudong Pearl Tower Huangpu River Yuyuan Garden Old City Xintiandi Tianzifang The Bund - Day 9
Departure from Shanghai
After breakfast, your tour ends. You'll have plenty of memories from your time traveling through China, from Beijing's historical sites to Shanghai's modern energy and everything in between.
- Meals
- Breakfast
